* Just north of Sedona on 89A is Slide Rock State Park, which offers swimming and a slide rock.

* Just north of Sedona on 89A is Slide Rock State Park, which offers swimming and a slide rock.

Revision as of 18:21, 6 June 2011

Sedona's main street, with the Red Rock Hills in the background

Sedona is a town in Arizona, United States of America, 120 miles north of Phoenix. Known for its beauty and serene setting amidst the beautiful Red Rocks, the town is famous for its vibrant arts community with nearly 100 art galleries and events including the Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Arts Festival and the Sedona Jazz Festival. It offers excellent outdoor adventures, including mountain biking, hiking and off-roading. Sedona is surprisingly sprawling, with Oak Creek to the south, West Sedona and Uptown Sedona each providing great views, hikes, dining and arts.

Contents

Get in

By plane

The small Sedona Airport (FAA: SEZ, IATA: SDZ) is too small for scheduled jet traffic, but is popular for general aviation destination. The nearest major airport is in Phoenix.

By car

Sedona is located approximately 90 minutes north of Phoenix, Arizona. From Phoenix, take I-17 north to the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon exit, where you turn west onto SR 179. The Village of Oak Creek is seven miles down this road, and Sedona is another seven.

From Flagstaff, Sedona is also reachable from I-17, but by far the most spectacular route is down Oak Creek Canyon via Hwy 89A. Drive carefully, as the switchbacks and falling red rocks can give quite a white-knuckle ride, but the view is well worth it.

Hwy-179 is designated as an All America Road by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Get around

Sedona is a great walking town, but a bike or car is necessary to access trail heads and most destinations. The free RoadRunner transit rotates from Uptown to the Hillside Plaza to Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village.

By guided tour

A number of companies provide guided tours (by bus, trolley or Jeep) of Sedona that include transportation from the surrounding areas. Some companies will provide bus travel from nearby towns while others begin in Sedona. Some will provide just a brief tour with small stops, while others may take you on a hike, and arrange all your meals.

CenterFocus Experiences, +1-928-301-3211. [2] An outdoor adventure guide company based in the Sedona area. They offer hiking and backpacking trips to the Grand Canyon and Havasupai, as well as rock climbing, canyoneering, archaeology and astronomy tours in the Sedona, Arizona area.

See

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Sedona is home to a bustling downtown and vibrant arts community, but the real attraction is the surreal, red rock landscape, visible from anywhere in town.

Take an hour's walk from near the school by the junction of the Upper Red Rock Loop Road and the highway 89 (there is a parking lot there). The trail leads up to one of the finest panoramic views you will ever see.

Chapel of the Holy Cross, 780 Chapel Rd, ☎(928) 282-4069. This unique chapel built into the rock offers great views.

Oakcreek Country Club, 690 Bell Rock Blvd Sedona, AZ, ☎888-703-9489.

Desert Canyon Scenic Loop.

Red Rocks and Sycamore Canyon Scenic Loop.

Do

Canyons, creeks, mountains, forests, spiritual vortexes, hikes and mountain biking trails surround the area. To hike one needs a Red Rock Pass from the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (Red Rock Pass - $5dy/$10wk/$20 yr - needed to park at the trail head, hiking is free to all). For a challenge, try Cathedral Rock. It's steep, but the view is unparalleled. For a more laid back stroll, park near the end of Verde Valley School Road, and walk the rest of the way to Oak Creek Crossing. Other notable hikes and walks include Broken Arrow,Bell Rock,Soldier's Pass, Devil's Bridge.

Sedona Driving This is a gorgeous area and driving around gives you great views of the rocks.

Beautiful views start on Arizona's First All-American Road, the Red Rock Scenic Byway [3] also known as the gateway to Red Rock Country; it starts soon after you exit I-!7 and ends in Sedona. Near the beginning of this National Scenic Byway (south of the Village of Oak Creek on SR 179), there's the Coconino National Forest Visitor Center; stop there and get free maps and lots of red rock country information.

Oak Creek Canyon - follow 89A through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. Very cool in summer months July - September. Views are not really spectacular, but unusual to be in a pine forest with a running river in Arizona. Hike West Fork of Oak Creek, for an easy well marked 2.5mi hike, along a very tranquil stream.</do>

Broken Arrow Trail, Seaton Ave, Sedona (Hwy 179, 2 miles before bridge, right at ''Broken-Arrow'' sign, park at trail head.). Follow easy 2 mile hike to Chicken Point. Well marked trail (follow the cairns). Beautiful views. Do early in the morning before Pink Jeeps - which start around 8AM. Can also see Submarine Rock from trail.

Cathedral Rocks from the saddle

Cathedral Rock Trail, Cathedral Rock Rd, Sedona (Hwy 179, 3 miles before '''Y''', left at Cathedral Rock Rd, 2 mile to park.). 0.8mi steep climb to vortex and beautiful views. Great at sunset. Beats Airport Mesa. Can walk around the base of the rock for a less strenuous hike.

Sedona is famous as the home of five New Age vortices, areas where the Earth's magnetism is said to have special properties. Vortexes are located at Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Schnebly Hill. You can take a vortex tour from one of many local guides, or hike to the sites yourself. Look for cairns marking the vortex sites.

Jeep rentals for serious off-road driving is popular. If you have four wheel drive, Schnebley Hill Road at sunset provides excellent views.

Just north of Sedona on 89A is Slide Rock State Park, which offers swimming and a slide rock.

Pink Javelinas outside Pink Jeep Tours

Pink Jeep Tours, 204 N Highway 89A, ☎928-282-5000, [5]. A fun way to see the red rocks if you're not in to hiking. They are far superior to the rival Red Rocks tour

Sedona Trolley Tours, ☎928-282-4211, [6]. The best first thing to do in Sedona is to take the Sedona Trolley. They have two routes. One is the City Highlights Tour and the other is Scenic Canyon Tour.$10.

M Diamond Ranch, ☎928-202-1730, [7]. Horse back rides and cowboy cookouts. Real western history and heritage at a 100 year old working cattle ranch. Transportation provided to and from Sedona.

Buy

Sedona Crystal Vortex

Sedona specializes in local Native American arts and crafts, international galleries and New Age shops (aura readings, healing crystals, vortex information) in addition to the usual tourist shopping. A few stores sell shirts dyed in genuine Sedona red rock.

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, 336 Highway 179, [8]. Full of restaurants and artsy shops. If you must take a break from enjoying the outdoors, this is the place to do it.

Hillside Sedona, 179, just south of the 89A Y. A lot of high end shops and restaurants - well positioned for strolling around

Eat

When it comes to dining, Sedona has an exceptional choice of style, atmosphere, decor and flavor developed for tourists from around the world. Many of the restaurants in Sedona are rated among the best restaurants in Arizona, and several have earned national acclaim.

Mid-range

Casa Bonita, 164 Coffee Pot Dr # H, ☎(928) 282-2728‎, [11]. They offer a 10% discount if you are staying at a few selected hotels in the area. Just show your room key.

Coffee Pot Restaurant, 2050 South west Drive, ☎(928) 282-6626, [12]. A local institution that has been featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network, etc. With a view of Coffee Pot Rock, this historic family-friendly place offers 101 omelets and southwestern favorites. Open for breakfast and lunch only. Includes a small curio shop.

Cowboy Club Grille, 241 N Hwy 89A, ☎(928) 282-4200. Very central and very popular steak house. Good atmosphere, food is pretty good. Really don't understand why so popular, but on a weekend plan on a 45minute wait during evening hours for a table (reservations excepted).

Javelina Cantina, ☎928.203.9514 (fax: 928.282.2636), [13]. Large portions of average American-Mexican food with an excellent view from the balcony. Food is good, not great.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Penrose Inn Bed and Breakfast, 250 Red Butte Dr., ☎928-284-3030, [16]. Arguably one of the best. The service, amenities, and delicious, hot breakfasts are miles above average. Their view of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte is unmatched.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!